Mill Creek Wilderness
The southwest-tending drainage of Mill Creek makes up 85 percent of the Wilderness, with Marks Creek drainage accounting for the difference. Both creeks are tributaries of Ochoco Creek, and home to small...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 17,173 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 44.4742, -120.5156 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 13) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
1 federal campground sits inside the boundary and 9 more are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 campground. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 2 miWhistler Campground ↗Campground
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- WildfireCoyote
26 mi from the center point · 17,460 acres · 99% contained
- WildfireCrosswhite
28 mi from the center point · 342,923 acres · 99% contained
- Wildfire0821
29 mi from the center point · 10 acres
- WildfireShingle
30 mi from the center point · 2,500 acres · 99% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mill Creek Wilderness?
17,173 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mill Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mill Creek Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mill Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mill Creek Wilderness?
1 federal campground sits inside the boundary, including Whistler Campground. 10 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
Where are the trailheads in Mill Creek Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 campground campground. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Mill Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.474, -120.516. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is 28 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mill Creek Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Coyote at 26 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Mill Creek Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 13 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Mill Creek Wilderness?
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (28 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.